The Pope affirmed this today in his homily for the feast of Corpus Christi in the Basilica of St. John Lateran. After the Mass, he led a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Rome to the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

The Eucharist has brought a social revolution, he affirmed, since believers gather before it, leaving aside differences in economic or social class, political convictions, sex and even preferences.

His listeners were living proof of his words: The congregation included Missionaries of Charity, boy scouts, cardinals, Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, pilgrims from around the world, and even some homeless people curious about the celebration.

Meditating on the Eucharistic mystery, the Holy Father cited the phrase from St. Paul: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Truth and strength

"In these words," said the Pontiff, "is perceived the truth and the strength of the Christian revolution, the deepest revolution of human history, which is experienced precisely gathered around the Eucharist. Here people of different ages, sex, social condition and political ideas gather."

"The Eucharist can never be a private event, reserved to people chosen on the basis of affinity or friendship," he added. "The Eucharist is a public worship that has nothing of esotericism or exclusivity.

"We have not decided with whom we want to gather; we have come and found ourselves together with each other, gathered by faith and called to become one body, sharing the only Bread that is Christ.

"We are united beyond our differences of nationality, profession, social class, political ideas: We open ourselves to each other to become one in him."

In fact, Benedict XVI affirmed, "from the beginning, this has been the characteristic of Christianity, visibly fulfilled around the Eucharist. And it is necessary to keep watch always so that the temptations of particularism, even if with good intentions, do not head in the opposite direction."

The feast of Corpus Christi, he concluded, "reminds us above all: To be Christians means to come together from all parts to be in the presence of the only Lord and to be one in him and with him."

All well and good. Except the founders of Christianatiy knew nothing of such shenanigans.

All well and good, but (as much as I don't like proof-versing) you should consider doing a word study on the Greek κοινωνία (koinonia). Particularly in light of 1 Cor 10:16:

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation (communion - koinonia) in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation (communion - koinonia)in the body of Christ?

When you hear the words of the Apostle in 1 Cor 11:24-26, where we are commended to do this as often as we drink together of the cup, I'd say the founders of Christianity did not only know something of this -- I would say they were the prime movers of this.

Never proof-verse with someone like that. My “The Church of Christ” aunt likes to do this with my Catholic husband. She never wins, but thinks she does. My favorite episode was when she was trying to justify why we should not invite the Jews in his family to our wedding. What could we do but laugh?

6
posted on 05/23/2008 5:31:44 AM PDT
by goodwithagun
(My gun has killed less people than Ted Kennedy's car.)

"The Eucharist can never be a private event, reserved to people chosen on the basis of affinity or friendship," he added. "The Eucharist is a public worship that has nothing of esotericism or exclusivity.

Strange statement in light of Paul's admonition that he who eats or drinks unworthily is guilty ...

Nuns take part in a candle-lit Corpus Domini procession, led by Pope Benedict XVI, between the basilicas San Giovanni in Laterano and Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome May 22, 2008. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (ITALY)

Pope Benedict XVI takes part in a candlelit Corpus Domini procession between the basilicas San Giovanni in Laterano and Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome May 22, 2008. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (ITALY)

Pope Benedict XVI takes part in a candlelit Corpus Domini procession between the basilicas San Giovanni in Laterano and Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome May 22, 2008. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (ITALY)

Some cannot seem to remember that the Son of God was also paraded through the streets or Paul’s warning about being guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ. Some seem to think that Paul was worried that some might “unworthily” consume bread and grape juice.

13
posted on 05/23/2008 7:05:29 AM PDT
by wagglebee
("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)

In middler year in seminary for systematic theology I wrote three papers, one on the Experience of the Holy as the grundlegung (or petra - heh heh) for all theology, one on the Eucharist, and one on the Holy Spirit. They were called:

Who was that Masked Man?Silver BulletWhat you Mean 'We', paleface?

I aced the course, and the prof (now gone to his reward) became one of my good friends.

18
posted on 05/23/2008 9:22:16 AM PDT
by Mad Dawg
(Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.)

Well, the idea was tht here we are in a predicament. And from who knows where comes a savior. And all we end up knowing about him(at first) is that he saved us. So "Theology" is asking Who he was.

then he left behind something, by which we know more about him and which is an essential aspect of what he is and does. The silver bullet.

ANd finally, we are united to him (and therefore able to say "we") by the Aciton of the Holy Spirit. But what IS that uniting, we are with HIm but we are NOT him, but in a way because of him we are here at all ....., SO' What you mean 'We'?

It just happened y'r honor, I swear I didn't plan it!

20
posted on 05/23/2008 11:20:56 AM PDT
by Mad Dawg
(Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.)

But since I know the Eucharist will be blasphemed and profaned on this thread I do pray you had seen the wisdom of making it a caucus thread.

The Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ cannot be harmed by the words of blasphemers. If they decide to descend upon this thread, it is to their detriment.

We Catholics need to remember the words of St. Peter:

1 Pet 3:14-16 But even if you do suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

It's not bread once it's consecrated, Chip. We believe it is the body of Christ. That's our belief...if it offends you, don't mock it...challenge it with maturity.

What does "consecrated" mean? How does that change it? What does it turn into after you eat it?

Religions fall into three categories:

1. The murdering violent: moslems who will employ any means to force the world to bend to their will.

2. The formerly torturing murdering violent Catholics, who tortured people who were suspected of being and, get this folks, an unbeliever! Remind you of of moslems? The catholic's snobbery and belief in their correctness and superiority relative to, any other faith and their belief that this thing called a "pope" somehow matters makes the beer come out of my nose.

3. The rest of the superstitious folks who expect that their time will come.

It's not bread once it's consecrated, Chip. We believe it is the body of Christ. That's our belief...if it offends you, don't mock it...challenge it with maturity.

Distortions of the facts offend me as they should everybody. Read Paul's own words:

"For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."[I Corinthians 11]

No matter how you slice it, the consecrated bread was still bread to Paul, this bread, that bread, but bread nonetheless, and they didn't carry it through the streets of Jerusalem in some ostentatious procession for the public to worship. Is that mature enough????

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